Changing from 500 gallon propane tank to portbale. What do I need?

[mountainmomma]

I have a little bitty cabin with a great big propane tank.
I want to change out my big tank for a small portbale tank (possibly use the big tank in the house project). I am wondering what parts I need.
Do I still need both the high pressure and low pressure regulators or just the low pressure one?
The local propane co. sold me a flixible gray outdoor hose/pipe to connect with as well as a fitting with two male ends; one small and one larger.
I have tried to find some kind of diagram without  success. Any advice is appreciated!

-Mountainmomma in AK

[glenn kangiser]

Down here we only use one regulator at the tank though they come in different sizes.  Either do the job but the bigger ones may have larger capacity.  If using the same location, it is possible your pigtail will screw right into the small tank with no other changes.

[Pine Cone]

Make sure you read Mtn. Don's thread about small propane tanks in the sticky section here.  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=10186.0

As I understand it, larger tanks work better when the temperature around the tank drops below freezing.

He says "It is readily apparent that 20 pound cylinders are not adequate to power many devices when the temperature gets down to 10 degrees F or lower. "

Just something to think about.  You might want to keep using the larger tank if you want winter heating and cooking in your cabin.

[considerations]

I had portables 2 7gal on the RV and added a 20 gal because in the winter I went through propane too quickly.  Eventually I found a 100 gal for a good price.  On this journey, I found that some outfits "lease" larger tanks to people...but then you get locked into their propane prices, which I found was unreasonably high.   My neighbor was in this bind.  Since I own the tank, I can shop around. 

There were times when it got really cold, that the 7 and 20 gal tanks were not giving me the pressure I needed to run the furnace, water heater, and stove all at the same time....not fun.

Just food for thought.